History of Stargard: From Stronghold to Hansa

Stargard – a town with a history worth discovering

Stargard is one of the oldest towns in Western Pomerania – a place where more than eight centuries of history are still part of the townscape. Gothic towers, medieval walls and gates stand alongside parks, contemporary architecture and places where everyday life goes on. The Ina River flows through the town, and just a few kilometres away lies Lake Miedwie, the fifth-largest lake in Poland.

This town is best explored at a leisurely pace. Peek into side streets, walk along the old fortifications, see Stargard from the river and discover the stories hidden in its details.

From stronghold to town

Settlement in this area goes back much further than the medieval town charter. Numerous archaeological finds uncovered during excavations in Stargard tell the story of the region’s early inhabitants. The town’s name itself has Slavic roots – “Stargard” means “old stronghold”.

One of the most important moments in the town’s history came on 24 June 1243, when Duke Barnim I granted Stargard town rights under Magdeburg law. The town received its own jurisdiction, land, customs exemptions and – particularly important for its further development – the right of navigation on the Ina. Over the following centuries Stargard grew rapidly. Brick fortifications, churches, a town hall and the houses of wealthy burghers were built. The medieval layout of streets and squares is still clearly visible in the Old Town today.

A town of merchants and the Hanseatic League

Its location on the Ina was of enormous importance for Stargard’s economic development. The river connected the town to major trade routes leading to the Baltic. Trade, crafts and contacts with other centres turned Stargard into one of the most important and prosperous towns in Pomerania.

In the 14th century Stargard joined the Hanseatic League – an association of merchant towns in northern Europe. Its trade links reached far beyond Pomerania, spanning towns and countries around the Baltic Sea. The importance of medieval Stargard is reflected both in its monumental buildings and in its powerful defence system.

Today its Hanseatic past is not merely a chapter of history. Stargard remains a member of the modern network of Hanseatic towns, and in 2026 it hosted the 46th International Hanseatic Days, once again becoming a meeting place for towns linked by a shared heritage.

The Gothic that defines Stargard

The most distinctive feature of historic Stargard is its brick Gothic architecture.

The Old Town is dominated by the monumental Collegiate Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the World, whose origins go back to the 13th century. Together with the town’s medieval defensive walls, it has been designated a Monument of History.

Walking around Stargard, you can see the surviving parts of one of the most valuable medieval defence complexes in Poland – the gates, towers and walls that for centuries marked the town’s boundaries.

A special symbol of Stargard is the Mill Gate – a medieval gate built over the current of the Ina. Other highlights of the historic townscape include the Pyrzyce Gate, the Red Sea Tower, the Weavers’ Tower, the Bastion, the Church of St John the Baptist, the Old Town Hall and historic townhouses.

It is this remarkable concentration of medieval architecture that has earned Stargard the name Jewel of Pomerania. The most important monuments can be explored by following the town’s “Stargard – Jewel of Pomerania” tourist trail, which covers 28 sites.

A town that changed over the centuries

But Stargard’s history does not end with the Middle Ages. The following centuries brought wars, fires, political change and the development of science, crafts and industry.

Particularly dynamic changes took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The growing town gained new buildings and infrastructure, and traces of this era can still be found beyond the oldest part of Stargard.

1945 brought a tragic turning point. In the final stages of the Second World War, much of the town’s historic fabric was destroyed. Post-war Stargard was shaped by new residents who arrived from all over Poland and from the former Eastern Borderlands. A new chapter began – rebuilding the town and building a new local community. Photographs held by the Archaeological and Historical Museum document both the wartime destruction and the reconstruction of successive districts from the late 1950s onwards.

Today you can explore Stargard’s history from the Middle Ages to the industrial era in the Bastion, where the Archaeological and Historical Museum displays hundreds of artefacts, old maps, engravings, documents and photographs. The exhibition “Day by Day… Stargard 1945–1989” presents the post-war fate of the town and the everyday life of its residents.

Stargard today

Modern Stargard combines its historic heritage with green spaces, culture, science and active leisure.

The historic centre is surrounded by a belt of parks forming a green ring around the Old Town. It is a great place for a walk, a rest and a look at the medieval fortifications from a different perspective.

The Ina still flows through the town – the same river that centuries ago enabled trade to flourish and built up Stargard’s importance. Today, together with nearby Lake Miedwie, it offers opportunities for kayaking, cycling and recreation.

There are many ways to get to know the town. Its history is told by monuments, the exhibitions of the Archaeological and Historical Museum and the town trails. The youngest explorers are guided around Stargard by the Griffins – small sculptures referring to events, people and places connected with the town’s history. The Stargard Griffins Trail features 17 figures.

Stargard is also developing new ways of presenting its heritage. Modern museum and educational spaces are being created, and the Museum Route now under way includes the Pyrzyce Gate, the Weavers’ Tower and the Red Sea Tower, where history will also be presented using modern technology.

Discover Stargard your way

Stargard does not tell its story in just one place. It is written in the bricks of the Collegiate Church, in the walls and gates, in the layout of medieval streets, on the banks of the Ina, in museum collections and in photographs of the post-war town.

But Stargard is not just about the past.

It is also parks, culture, events, local places, active leisure and people who add new chapters to its history every day.

You can come here for the Gothic. You can follow in the footsteps of the Hanseatic League, look for Griffins, discover the town’s stories, head to the Ina or simply step off the main route and see where the town takes you.

Each of these paths shows a different Stargard.
Choose yours and start exploring.